The word “pension” is one of the most popular in the modern world. In civilized countries, every person can count on the support of the state in his declining years. However, this was not always the case...

Selected people received pensions

The pension system as a social institution originated quite a long time ago. Already in the Roman Empire, provision was made for legionnaires to have a prosperous old age - due to the allotment of land seized as a result of wars being transferred into the possession of each legionnaire. According to some historians, it was these pensions and the other social benefits that followed them that became one of the reasons for the collapse of the Roman Empire...

In Europe, pensions were initially viewed not as a duty of the state, but as a royal favor for service to the throne. The pension went to a few, and, as a rule, to those who were not in poverty anyway. Age did not play any role in the awarding of royal pensions.

The first to officially introduce a joint state pension for all workers in 1889 was Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of Germany. Notably, these pensions were based on compulsory social insurance and contributions from employers and employees.

20 years later, Great Britain and Australia picked up the baton, and the United States of America came to a state pension system only in the 30s of the twentieth century.

The state helped widows and officials

In Tsarist Russia, the beginnings of a pension system appeared during the years of reforms of Peter I. But detailed pension legislation was adopted under Nicholas I. Military personnel and their widows, as well as high-ranking officials, were the first to benefit from state support.

Subsequently, the pension system in Russia steadily expanded to include large categories of people who are today called “public sector employees.” The right to pensions was given to lower-ranking employees who did not have ranks, teachers of state educational institutions, medical staff of state hospitals, engineers and foremen, and since 1913, workers of state enterprises and railways. True, the villagers could only count on their savings and the help of their relatives.

Under Stalin, old people had a hard time

The Bolsheviks abolished the tsar's pensions in one fell swoop. The majority of Soviet workers did not receive old-age pensions for a long time - they were provided only for a small part of the population. Thus, in August 1918, pensions were introduced for disabled people of the Red Army, in 1923 - for the Old Bolsheviks, in 1928 - for workers in the mining and textile industries, in 1937 - for all urban workers and employees.

Moreover, the maximum pension under Stalin was 300 “old” rubles per month, which was approximately a quarter of the average salary. Despite rising prices and wages, this maximum remained unchanged. Considering that most pensioners received 40-60 rubles, it was absolutely impossible to live on that kind of money without the support of relatives.

In 1956, under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev, a pension reform was carried out - the average size of old-age pensions was increased by more than two times, and for disability - by one and a half times. Nikita Khrushchev is usually given credit for “giving pensions to collective farmers.” In fact, all collective farmers were given the same pension of 12 rubles a month, which was approximately equal to the cost of four kilograms of doctor’s sausage. In 1973, pension payments were increased to 20 rubles, and in 1987 to 50 rubles. Collective farms were allowed to pay pension supplements to their pensioners.

Privileged caste

For former officers, the “ceiling” was twice as high as for civilians: 250 rubles per month in the army and the KGB, 220 rubles in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It was allowed to work without any restrictions, and military pensioners were, by the standards of that time, very wealthy people.

Personal pensions were introduced in 1923. They were received by prominent scientists, old Bolsheviks, Heroes of the Soviet Union and Socialist Labor, full holders of the Order of Glory, but above all, by bosses of various ranks.
The personal pension of union significance was 250 rubles per month, republican - 160 rubles, local - 140 rubles. In addition, such pensioners were paid annually one or two monthly pensions “for health improvement”.

On a global scale, pension provision now differs little from before: there are those who are not poor at all and, on the contrary, who can barely make ends meet. Soon, they say, this
Just the facts

• 300 rubles was the personal pension of the Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee,
• A candidate member of the Politburo received 400 rubles,
• A Politburo member received 500 rubles.

The pension system existed even under tsarism. But today we want to tell you how the “fate” of pension payments turned out after the revolution? And how did they build a scheme thanks to which Soviet pensioners could live carefree, and even help their children and grandchildren?

In the early years they helped the disabled and orphans

After the revolution, the Soviet government immediately began to implement Lenin's insurance program, outlined at the VI All-Russian Conference of the RSDLP. Of course, pension insurance at that time was no longer a novelty in the country, but in Tsarist Russia workers were not paid pensions for old age and disability caused by general illness. Their families received nothing even in the event of loss of breadwinners.

The Soviet government decided to fill all these gaps. Already on November 1, 1917, a government announcement on social insurance was published. In it, the state for the first time took upon itself the financial support of the elderly, disabled, widows and orphans. At the same time, due to the difficult economic situation, the young country was not yet able to introduce old-age pensions. There was a civil war, and first of all it was necessary to provide pensions to disabled Red Army soldiers.

Under Stalin, old people received additional living expenses from their relatives

When peace came and life in the country improved somewhat, in 1928 old-age pensions were introduced for workers and employees. At the same time, the lowest retirement age in the world was established: for men - 60 years, for women - 55. At the same time, the authorities improved pension provision for disabled people and families who have lost their breadwinner.

However, pensions remained very low; for example, in 1937, a disabled person of the 1st group received 65 rubles, a disabled person of the 2nd group received 45 rubles, and a disabled person of the 3rd group received 25 rubles. For comparison: a student scholarship in 1937 was 130 rubles. per month and it was impossible to live on it without additional income

The old-age pension, judging by the sources that have reached us, was only slightly larger. Even in the last years of Stalin’s life (in the 1950s), their “ceiling” was 300 rubles. with an average salary of about 1200 rubles. In other words, the maximum pension was only 25% of the average salary. It is clear that it was impossible for elderly people to live on that kind of money without the support of their relatives.

Khrushchev gave pensions to collective farmers

But, finally, Stalin’s times went into the past and Nikita Khrushchev began to lead the Soviet state. Since then, the communist pension system began to flourish. In 1956, a pension reform was carried out in the USSR, which fully met the interests of workers, and the amount of payments for city residents - workers and employees - was significantly increased. In addition, pensions were introduced for the first time for collective farmers, although they were calculated according to a separate system and were lower than those of other workers.

This system remained almost unchanged until the collapse of the USSR. Its postulates were simple, understandable and accessible to every citizen of the country of the Soviets:

• retirement age is 60 years for men and 55 years for women;
• the length of service required to grant a pension is 25 years for men and 20 years for women;
• pension amount - half the employee’s average salary for the last two or any five years of working life;
• The pension “ceiling” is 120 rubles per month.

It is also important to note that workers were allowed to work even after retirement, while their pensions were retained. But it was possible to occupy a specialist’s chair and maintain a pension only in areas where there was a shortage of personnel, for example, in medicine.

If we talk about the size of pensions, at first glance they may seem small. However, we must remember that in those days the state subsidized low prices for bread, milk, utilities, public transport and movie tickets. Medical services were also provided free of charge. Since, in addition, pensioners did not have to spend money on children and acquiring durable items (furniture, televisions and refrigerators served in Soviet families for decades), they often turned out to be better off than adult children. And, of course, they helped their descendants, which had a beneficial effect on their moral well-being, and therefore on their health.

On a note

There were also privileged pensioners in the USSR. They received a so-called personal pension of various significance - district, city, regional, republican, all-union. Its size was determined by the government. Based on some sources of those years, experts claim that the “ceiling” of such pensions, even for senior officials of the USSR, did not exceed 300 rubles.

Summary of the myth

In the USSR, collective farmers were not entitled to pensions. The myth is used to create an image of the humiliated and disadvantaged position of the peasantry in the USSR.

Examples of using

“A particularly difficult lot fell on the peasants (collective farmers were not entitled to pensions, vacations, they did not have passports, could not leave the village without permission from the authorities, paid a land tax, etc.)”1).

“The pension system did not cover peasants”2).

Reality

In 1935, the Constitution of the USSR enshrined the right of all citizens of the country to pension provision. There was no unified pension fund at that time; the payment of social benefits for disability and old age was entrusted directly to the artels, which were supposed to create a social fund3) and a mutual aid fund for this purpose.

Also, by the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks "On benefits for elderly collective farmers and individual farmers" dated September 8, 1937, the farms of collective farmers and individual farmers who were disabled due to advanced age (60 years or more) and not having able-bodied family members4).

“The Model Charter of the Agricultural Artel of 1935 (Article 11) obliged the collective farm board, by decision of the general meeting of the artel members, to create a social fund to provide assistance to the disabled, the elderly, collective farmers who have temporarily lost their ability to work, needy families of military personnel, to maintain kindergartens, nurseries and orphans. The fund was to be created from the harvest and livestock products received by the collective farm in an amount not exceeding 2% of the total gross output of the collective farm. The collective farm, whenever possible, allocated products and funds to the relief fund. At their discretion, collective farms could also establish permanent pensions for elderly collective farmers and disabled workers by monthly issuing them food, money, or accruing workdays. The amount and procedure for pension provision (retirement age and work experience required to receive a pension) were determined by the general meeting of artel members or a meeting of authorized representatives.” 5).

So until the end of the 60s, collective farmers also received a pension, it was simply issued not by the state, but by the collective farm itself. In addition to pensions from the collective farm, specialists and disabled people of the Great Patriotic War could additionally receive a state pension. “The number of such collective farmers was small. In the Vologda region in 1963, there were only 8.5 thousand retired collective farmers, which amounted to no more than 10% of the total number of elderly members of agricultural associations”6).

For workers and employees, state pensions were established in 1956 by the Law on State Pensions7).

With the release in 1964 of the “Law on Pensions and Benefits to Members of Collective Farms”8), the final formation of the USSR pension system took place and the state completely assumed the responsibility for paying pensions. At the same time, the resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers specifically noted that collective farms, at their discretion, can retain their pension payments - in addition to the state pension.

In all subsequent years, there has been a gradual equalization of the pension provision of collective farmers with that of workers and employees, thanks to the faster growth rates of pensions for collective farmers.

1) Lecture course on Russian history

2) Guseinov R. History of the Russian economy

3) Directory of the collective farm chairman. Selkhogiz, 1941

Examples of use: “A particularly difficult lot fell on the peasants (collective farmers were not entitled to pensions, vacations, they did not have passports, could not leave the village without permission from the authorities, paid a land tax, etc.)” (Lecture course on Russian history http:/ /kursoviki.spb.ru/lekcii/lekcii_history.php)

“The pension system did not cover peasants” (History of the Russian economy. Textbook. Guseinov R. http://www.elective.ru/arts/eko01-k0177-p12229.phtml)

Reality:

In 1935, the Constitution of the USSR enshrined the right of all citizens of the country to pension provision. Creation of a pension system.

There was no unified pension fund at that time; the payment of social benefits for disability and old age was entrusted directly to the artels, which were supposed to create a social fund and a mutual assistance fund for this purpose.

“The Model Charter of the Agricultural Artel of 1935 (Article 11) obliged the collective farm board, by decision of the general meeting of the artel members, to create a social fund to provide assistance to the disabled, the elderly, collective farmers who have temporarily lost their ability to work, needy families of military personnel, to maintain kindergartens, nurseries and orphans1. The fund was to be created from the harvest and livestock products received by the collective farm in an amount not exceeding 2% of the total gross output of the collective farm. The collective farm, whenever possible, allocated products and funds to the relief fund. At their discretion, collective farms could also establish permanent pensions for elderly collective farmers and disabled workers by monthly issuing them food, money, or accruing workdays. The size and procedure for pension provision (retirement age and the length of service required to receive a pension) were determined by the general meeting of artel members or a meeting of authorized representatives” (T. M. Dimoni “Social security of collective farmers of the European North of Russia in the second half of the twentieth century”)

So until the end of the 60s, collective farmers also received a pension, it was simply issued not by the state, but by the collective farm itself. In addition to pensions from the collective farm, specialists disabled during the Great Patriotic War could additionally receive a state pension. “The number of such collective farmers was small. In the Vologda region in 1963, there were only 8.5 thousand retired collective farmers, which amounted to no more than 10% of the total number of elderly members of agricultural associations” (Dimoni)

For workers and employees, state pensions were established in 1956 by the law on state pensions (“Vedomosti of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR”, 1956, No. 15, Art. 313.)

With the publication in 1964 of the “Law on Pensions and Benefits to Collective Farm Members” (“Vedomosti of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR”, 1964, No. 29, Art. 340), the final formation of the USSR pension system took place and the state completely assumed the responsibility for paying pensions. At the same time, the resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers specifically noted that collective farms, at their discretion, can retain their pension payments - in addition to the state pension

From the same law of July 15, 1964 (in its original version, the law was amended several times)

Article 6. Members of collective farms have the right to an old-age pension: men - upon reaching 65 years of age and with at least 25 years of work experience; women - upon reaching 60 years of age and with at least 20 years of work experience. […] Article 8. Old-age pensions for collective farm members are assigned in the amount of 50 percent of earnings up to 50 rubles per month and, in addition, 25 percent of the rest of earnings. The minimum old-age pension is set at 12 rubles per month. The maximum amount of old-age pension is set at 102 rubles per month, that is, at the level of the maximum amount of old-age pension provided for by the Law on State Pensions for workers and employees permanently residing in rural areas and associated with agriculture.

In all subsequent years, there has been a gradual equalization of the pension provision of collective farmers with that of workers and employees, thanks to the faster growth rates of pensions for collective farmers.

Much has already been said about pensions in modern Russia. It must be said frankly that pensions do not correspond to the current economic situation in the country. Even at first glance, it must be said that they are barely enough to make ends meet. But of course it is impossible to say that pensioners are dying of hunger. I know many retirees. So they all receive civil pensions in the amount of 9 to 15 thousand rubles. I don’t understand where pensions of 4-5 thousand rubles come from in Russia. Either these pensioners do not have enough experience, or in Soviet times, they worked for completely low wages.

However, if we talk about pensions in the USSR, it should be noted that they didn’t give much either. Yes, the maximum pension was 132 rubles per month. But this is the maximum. In 1985, the average pension in the USSR was 72 rubles.

But the pensions of collective farmers are generally bad. So until 1964, collective farmers did not receive pensions at all, but in 1964 the authorities decided to pay pensions.

But what kind of pensions were these?

Here's their size.

In general, the amount of monthly pensions paid to collective farmers in the European North increased fourfold from 1965 to 1985, with fairly low inflation. Moreover, in the mid-1960s. the average pension was close to the minimum, and in the mid-1980s. exceeded it almost 2 times (table).

Average monthly pensions assigned under the Law on Pensions for Collective Farm Members (RUB)

As you can see, the average pension in 65 was 12.5 rubles, and in 70 it was only 14.1 rubles.

Well, as we understand, you won’t have much fun. It's not even poverty. This is completely beyond comprehension. And this despite the fact that the Soviet government did not pay wages on collective farms at all. So the collective farmers had no savings. This is almost hunger. So the talk about a pension paradise in the USSR is simply a lie.
Pensions in the USSR. Just the facts.

Pensions in the USSR are most often written in two forms. In the rainbow: every Soviet pensioner received 100-120 rubles per month. In brown: Soviet pensioners lived on 10-15 rubles a month. It’s interesting that both the rainbows and the browns are right in their own way.

Let's start with some of the grandparents:

Pension in 32 rubles. She was appointed in 1975 by one of the grandmothers. Total (intermittent) experience is a little more than 11 years. Salary for the last 8 years is 100-110 rubles.
Pension in 45 rubles. She was appointed in 1967. This is the second grandmother. Since the 1930s she worked as a typist. The salary in the last years of work was 90 rubles.
Pension in 60 rubles. She was appointed in 1975. My grandfather had 45 years of continuous experience (in various specialties). Pre-retirement salary - 120 rubles.
Pension in 1 05 rubles. She was appointed in 1972. The second grandfather was the chief accountant.

So, before us minimum pension 32 rubles, maximum - 105 rubles. That is, the average pension of grandparents is equal to the minimum wage established in the 1970s. That is, 70 rubles.

But if you look separately, the following comes out. One family had a total pension of 92 rubles (the average is 46 rubles), and the second - 150 rubles (the average is 75 rubles). These are facts from life. And now officialdom. Truthful. From a Soviet brochure"Pensions for workers and employees". Circulation 300 thousand copies. In general, accessible information.

First, an explanation of where the funds for pension payments in the USSR came from. From enterprise contributions to state social insurance.Contributions were paid without any deductions from salaries.Moreover, eventhe absence of such contributions did not deprive workers and employees of the right to a pension.
Old age pension on a general basis was established when men reached 60 years of age, and women reached 55 years of age, with a total work experience of at least 25 and 20 years, respectively.
Old-age pension with incomplete work experience assigned to workers and employees subject to the following conditions:A)reaching retirement age(see above)during the working period,b)if they have worked for a total of at least five years,V)have worked for at least three years immediately before retirement,G)applied for a pension no later than one month from the date of termination of work. Please note that no supplements were accrued to this pension.
We will not consider preferential pensions, as well as personal ones, here.We will also leave the history of the development of the Soviet pension system outside the scope of this note.

On a unified scale, the old-age pension on a general basis for workers and employees was calculated as follows (1980s):

History of pensions in the USSR.
In 1917, when the Bolsheviks came to power, they simplified the tsar’s pensions, but were in no hurry to introduce their own. The overwhelming majority of Soviet workers did not receive old-age pensions for 20 years, collective farmers - for almost 40 years.

In August 1918, pensions were introduced for the disabled of the Red Army, in 1923 for the Old Bolsheviks, in 1928 for workers in the mining and textile industries, and in 1937 for all urban workers and employees. Moreover, the maximum pension under Stalin was 300 “old” rubles per month (30 rubles per month after 1961).

As for collective farmers, the Khrushchev pension reform of 1956 established the same pension for all of them - 12 rubles. per month, which was approximately equal to the cost of 4.5 kg. boiled sausage. In 1973, pension payments were increased to 20 rubles, and in 1987 - to 50 rubles. Collective farms operating at a profit were allowed to pay pension supplements to their former collective farm members.

The pension “ceiling” in the USSR was 120 rubles per month. The Soviet ruble was non-convertible, but if you take the official State Bank exchange rate used for foreign trade transactions, and then convert dollars into modern rubles, you will get about 4,000 thousand rubles - this is significantly less than what modern Russian pensioners have. But not everyone received the maximum pension (120 rubles).

Personal pensions were invented by the Bolsheviks in 1923. In 1925, 1956 and 1977, legislation was adjusted, and personal pensions themselves increased. In the USSR there were three categories of personal pensioners:

1. Pensioner of union significance.

2. Pensioner of republican significance.

3. Local pensioner.

The personal pension of union significance was 250 rubles, republican - 160 rubles, local - 140 rubles. In addition, such pensioners were paid annually one or two monthly pensions “for health improvement”.

Full members of the USSR Academy of Sciences received a bonus for academic title in the amount of 500 rubles. per month, corresponding members - 400 rubles. It was paid for life and was added first to the salary and then to the pension.

The personal pension of the Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee was 300 rubles. per month, candidate member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee - 400 rubles, member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee - 500 rubles. High-ranking retirees retained state dachas and cars with drivers.

The first secretary of the regional committee, retiring for a personal pension, received an apartment in Moscow.

When Dzhugashvili’s (Stalin’s) daughter Svetlana Aliluyeva returned to the USSR from emigration in 1994, she was assigned a personal pension, given a car with a driver and coupons for Kremlin food, although she did not have not only special merits, but also the work experience required by law.